Curb-box.



A, J. TYLER.

CURB BOX. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1909.

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A. J. TYLER;

UURB BOX.

APPLICATION FILED r311. 25, 1909.

Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

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' ATTORE Yd AARON J TYLER, 0F BUCHEfitTFR, NEW YORK.

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specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, rare.

Application filed February 25, 1909. berial No. 479,920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, AARON J. TYLER, citizen of the United States,residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curb -Bo2;es, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to curb boxes and has for its object to providestrong, durable, and thoroughly efiicient devices of this character, theconstruction and relative disposition of the several parts of which aresuch as to obviate the employment of the threaded connections forretaining the parts in as sembled position, which threads soon rust whenexposed to the elements and render it difiicult if not impossible toobtain access to the interior of the box without mutilating or breakingthe same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a curb box the cover ofwhich is retained on the surface boX in such a manner as to prevent anunauthorized person from removing the same with a view tosurreptitiously controlling the flow of the water in the supply pipe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a curb box capable ofbeing readily adjusted to any depth of trench and in which provision ismade for limiting the longitudinal movement of the stand-pipe, therebyto prevent the withdrawal of said stand-pipe from the casing and also toprevent the stand-pipe from wedging against the stop cock or valve andinterfering with the proper operation of the latter.

A further object of the invention is to so position the fasteningdevices and surface box, that the former are entirely housed within thelatter, the bottom of said surface box forming a closure for the standpipe so as to prevent children or other mischievous persons from fillingthe stand-pipe with sticks, dirt, or other foreign matter, should thecover be accidentally left off.

A further object of the invention is to generally improve theconstruction of the curb box so as to render it easy to manufacture andassemble and thus reduce the cost of manufacture to a minimum.

Further objects will appear in the following description, it beingunderstood that various changes in form, proportions, and minor detailsof construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims, 7, V

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a curb box constructed inaccordance with my invention; the surface lOOX being turned a quarterway around from normal in order to more clearly show the construction ofthe same; Fig. 2 is an edge view of the curb box; Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the same; Fig. i a transverse sectional view; Fig. 5 is avertical sectional view of the body portion of the surface box; Fig. 6is a bottom plan view of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of thesame;-Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the stand-pipe detached; Fig. 9 is atop plan view of said stand pipe; Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional viewof the cover of the surface box; Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of thesame; Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the cover; Fig. 13 designates abottom plan, vertical sectional and top plan views of the socket memberemployed with the inner tubular member; Fig. 1dis a side elevationshowing the tubular member, the socket, and angular valve actuating rodin assembled position; Fig. 15 is a top plan and side elevation of thepin detached; Fig. 16 represents top plan, vertical sectional, andbottom plan views of the key seat; Fig. 17 represents a vertical sectionand the front elevation of said key seat; and, Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the key seat.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawingsby the same reference characters.

The improved curb boX comprises a valve casing or housing adapted to beembedded in the ground and preferably formed in two sections 5 and 6,the longitudinal edges of one of which are formed with laterallyextending beads or flanges 7 which overlap the adjacent longitudinaledges of the mating section and form a closure at the juncture of saidsections.

The lower end of each casing section is provided with an inwardly proecting portion 8 which registers with the inwardly projecting portion ofthe mating section thereby to form a closure for the bottom of thecasing and thus prevent the ingress of sand, dirt, or other foreignmatter to the valve or stop cock 9.

Extending laterally from the casing sections are oppositely disposedperforated lugs 10 which receive bolts or similar fastening devices,there being transversely alined openings 12 formed in the casingsections beneath the valve 9 for the reception of a single bolt orfastening device 13, which in connection with the bolts 11 serves tohold the casing sections in assembled position.

Slidably mounted for vertical movement within the casing is a stand-pipe14; havingits upper end provided with laterally extending flanges 15 oneof which is formed with slots 16 opening through the peripheral edgethereof, for the purpose hereinafter referred to.

Supported on the flanged end of the standpipe is the body portion of thesurface box 17, said box being preferably cast or otherwise formed ofmetal and provided at its lower edge with a depending flange 18 whichoverlaps one of the flanges 15 of the stand-pipe when positioned thereonand forms a closure for theopen ends of the slots 16. The upper portionof the surface box is provided with a laterally extending flange 19adapted to receive and support the downwardly turned edge 20 of aremovable cover 21.

The central portion of the member 17 is provided with a depression orsocket 22 which receives the head 23 of a pin or key 24, the height ofthe head 23 being such that the upper portion thereof will normally liein a plane below the horizontal plane of the member 17.

The lower end of the pin 2st projects within a tubular member 25 and isrigidly combined therewith by a pin or fastening device 26 so thatrotary movement imparted to one will cause a corresponding movement ofthe other.

Disposed within the tubular member 25 is a longitudinally disposed rod27 of angular cross sectional formation, to the lower end of which isrigidly secured a cap piece 28. The cap piece 28 is provided with a keyseat 29 for the reception of the T-head 30 of the valve 9, there beingsuitable recesses or depressions 31 formed in the opposite side walls ofthe key seat to accommodate the stem of the stop cock or valve when thekey seat is positioned thereon thereby preventing the twisting orturning of one member relatively to the other and thus insure positiveactuation of the valve when the key member 23 is operated.

As a means for permitting simultaneous movement of the rod 27 and thetubular member 25, there is provided a socket 32 in one end of which isseated the adjacent end of the tubular member 25, the opposite end ofthe socket 32 being formed with a longitudinal recess the walls of whichconform to the annular formation of the rod 27 as best shown in Figs. 11and 13 of the drawings.

The socket member 32 is rigidly combined with the tubular member 25prefe ably by forming the socket member and tubular member withregistering recesses, and subsequently driving a pin or similarfastening device 33 therethrough. Thus it will be seen that the tubularmember 25 is free to move vertically of the rod 27 to permit thestand-pipe to be positioned in ditches of different depths, while thestand-pipe 14- is slidably mounted for vertical movement in the casingor housing 5 and carries to surface box, the stand-pipe and itsassociated parts being locked in adjusted position by manipulating theclamping bolts 1.1. If desired, however, any other suitable means may beemployed for clamping the parts together in fixed position after theadjustment of the same has been effected.

Secured to or formed integral with the lower end of the stand-pipe 14 isa late ally extending shoulder 3-1- which coacts with suitableprojections on the adjacent casing sections and serves to prevent thewith drawal of the stand-pipe from the casing, there being a simil rshoulder 35 formed on the upper portion of said stand-pipe and ar rangedto bear against the adjacent portion of the valve casing for limitingthe downward movement of the stand prevent said stand pipe from comingin eon tact with and wedging or otherwise in1pairing the operation ofthe valve 9.

One of the important features of the present invention is the meansemployed for retaining the surface box in position nu the stand-pipe,and for preventing an unauthorized person from removing the cover of thesurface box with a view to surre1; titiously operating the key 21, thusto cut oil the flow of water in the supply pipe 30. Such a result isaccomplished by forming the body portion'17 of the surface box withopenings 37 for the reception of threaded bolts 38 the shanks of whichare extended through the openings 16 for enga ement with clamping nuts39, the heads of the bolts being set in sockets or recesses 10 formed inthe standpipe for the reception of the same, as best shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings.

@ne of the fastening devices or bolts 38 is extended through an opening4-1 in the cover 21 for engagement with a clamping nut 42, the latterbeing seated in a recess 13 in said cover so that the upper )OltlOll ofthe nut will be disposed substanti: ly flush with or slightly below thehorizontal plane of the cover 21, and thus present a smooth surface atground line.

itttention is here called to the fact that the fastening devices 38 areentirely housed by the cover 21 so that the said fastening devices areprotected from the elements and thus prevented from rusting. It willalso be noted that the flange 44 of the nut 12 pipe, and thus llO aaepoiforms in eflect a closure for the opening ll in the cover so as toprevent the entrance of moisture or water to the interior of the surfacebox.

The head 23 of the pin 24 is preferably inclined or tapered forengagement with a specially constructed key, the top of the head 23being provided with a transverse rib 45 adapted to register withsuitable index characters 46, in the present instance, the letter 0 sothat the operator upon removing the cover 21 may readily ascertainwhether the flow of water is turned off or on. By securing the cover ofthe surface box on the stand-pipe in. the manner described, theen'iployment of threads which have a tendency to rust is obviated, andat the same time the cost of manufacture is reduced to a minimum. Itwill also be noted, that by making the opposite ends of the casing 5 atthe valve 9 relatively thin and substantially parallel with each other,a flattened surface 46 is presented for let-- tering or for'displayingany advertisements thereon.

Having thus described the invention, what claimed as new is 1. In. acurb box, a valve casing, a standpipe covered by the casing, telescopingmembers normally housed within the stand pipe one of which is providedwith means for engagement with the valve, a key engaging the othermember, a surface box supported by the stand-pipe, fastening devices forsecuring the surface box to the stand-pipe, and a cover for the surfacebox, said. cover forming a housing for the fastening devices and key.

2. In a curb box, a valve casing, a standpipe carried by the ca sing,telescoping members disposed within the stand-pipe, one of which isprovided with means for engage ment with the valve, a surface boxsupported by the stand-pipe, fastening devices for securing the surfacebox to the stand'pipe, and a cover forming a housing for the fasteningdevices, one of said fastening devices serving to lock the cover inposition on the surface box.

3. In a curb box, a valve casing, a standpipe mounted for longitudinalmovementwithin the casing, telescoping members one of which is providedwith means for engagement with the valve, means for limiting thelongitudinal movement of the stand-pipe, a surface box supported by saidstand-pipe and having a depression formed therein, a key seated in thedepression and rigidly secured to one of the telescoping members,fastening devices for securing the surface box to the stand-pipe, and acover forming a housing for the fastening devices, one of said fasteningdevices serving as a means for locking the cover in closed position.

4;. In a curb box, a valve casing, a vertically adjustable stand-pipedisposed Within the casing and provided at its upper end with alaterally extending perforated flange, telescoping members slidablymounted within the stand-pipe one of which is provided with means forengagement with the valve, a key secured to and movable with one of thetelescoping members, a surface box supported by the stand-pipe andprovided with a de pending flange surrounding the perforated flange ofsaid stand-pipe, fastening devices extending through the perforations inthe flange for securing the surface box to said stand-pipe, and a coverforming a housing for the fastening devices and key.

5. in a curb box, a valve casing, a vertically movable stand-pipeslidably mounted within the 'alve casing and provided with stopshoulders for limiting the longitudinal moven'ient thereof, telescopingmembers disposed within the stand-pipe, one of which is provided withmeans for engagement with the valve, spaced flanges extending laterallyfrom the upper end of the stand-pipe one of which. is provided withsockets opening through the peripheral edge thereof, a surface boxsupported on the flanged end of the stand-pipe, bolts carried by thesurface box and extending through the openings in the flanges with theirheads seated in the sockets of said flange, clamping nuts engaging thethreaded ends of the bolts and bearing against the surface box, a coverforming a housing for the fastening devices, and a key secured to one ofthe telescoping members and provided with a head seated in a depres sionin the bottom of the surface box.

'6. In a curb box, a valve casing, a vertically disposed stand-pipewithin the casing, telescoping members arranged within the stand-pipe,one of which is tubular and the other of angular cross sectionformation, a cap piece carried by the angular member and arranged toembrace the key of the valve stem, a socket member forming a connectionbetween the tubular and angular members, a surface box supported by thestand-pipe and provided with a depression, a key rigidly secured. to oneof said telescoping members and. having an angular head seated in thedepression in the bottom of the surface box, fastening devices forsecuring the surface box to the stand-pipe, and a cover forming ahousing for the fastening devices, one of said fastening devices alsoserving to secure the cover in closed position.

7. In a curb box, a valve casing, a stand pipe disposed within the valvecasing and provided with a perforated flange, telescoping members one ofwhich is provided with means for engagement with the valve, a surfacebox supported by the stand-pipe and having a central depression formedtherein and provided with a depending flange surrounding the perforatedflange of said stand-pipe, there being indicating devices formed on thebottom of the surface box, a pin rigidly secured to one of thetelescoping members and provided with an angular head having a ribformed thereon adapted to register with one of the indicating devices,fastening devices extending through the perforations in the flange forsecuring the surface box to the stand-pipe, and a cover forming ahousing for the fastening devices of the surface box.

8. In a curb box, a sectional valve casing, a stand-pipe disposed withinthe valve casing and provided with a perforated flange, telescopingmembers one of which is provided with means for engagement with thevalve, means carried by a casing section for locking the stand-pipe inadjusted position,

a surface box supported by the stand-pipe and provided with a dependingflange surrounding the perforated flange of said standpipe, fasteningdevices extending through the perforations in the flange for securingthe surface box to the stand-pipe, a key carried by the surface box andengaging one of the telescoping members, a cover forming a housing forsaid fastening devices, and means for locking said cover in closedposition.

' 9. In a curb box, a valve casing formed of mating sections, havingtheir adjacent longitudinal edges overlapped, a stand-pipe slidablymounted for vertical movement within the casing, telescoping membersdisposed within the stand-pipe one of which is provided with means forengagement with the valve, a socket carried by one of said members andslidably mounted on the mating member, a surface box supported by thestand-pipe, a key having a tapered head seated in a recess in thesurface box, and rigidly combined with one of the telescoping members,and a cover forming a closure for the surface box.

10. In a curb box, a valve casing formed of mating sections, the lowerportions of which are substantially semi circular in shape and providedwith flat side faces, a stand-pipe extending within the casing andadjustable vertically to the depth of a trench, telescopic members, oneof which is provided with means for engagement with the valve, meanscarried by the casing sections and engaging the stand-pipe for lookingthe latter in adjusted position, fastening devices for securing thesurface box to the stand-pipe, a key carried by the surface box andrigidly secured to one of the telescopic members, a cover forming ahousing for said fastening devices, and means for locking said cover inclosed position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AARON J TYLER.

Witnesses Gno. W. THOMAS, IIERBER'L B. THOMAS.

